TREK CAMBION – A TOP PERFORMING GRAVEL/MTB SHOE FOR ITS PRICE
There’s been a lot of change in enthusiast-level gravel and MTB shoes in the last few years. We’re getting more and better quality gravel-specific options, better-performing value-priced models, more shoes with BOA dials and wider toe boxes, and new models added along with updated ones to choose from.
The Trek Cambion Mountain Bike Shoe is one of the best of the newly introduced shoes that I’ve ridden on gravel. It rivals the Shimano RX801, a dedicated gravel shoe I’ve ridden and recommended for several years.
A MODERN LAST
The Cambion sells for US$260, £250, €280, nearly half what the top-of-the-line Trek RSL Mountain bike shoe goes for. Yet it shares the same Trek Pro last or form as the RSL that, for me, strikes the right balance between ample sole width and toe box room, and secure heel hold.
That Pro last is a switch from the narrower InForm one used in the Bontrager Cambion it replaces. The new Cambion also has two one-way turning BOA Li2 dials, whereas the prior model had one two-way BOA IP1 dial and a Velcro strap.
Many brands have recently added or updated their shoes to include wider soles and roomier toe boxes. However, some, like the Specialized Recon 3.0 off-road shoe, have also widened the heel cup without giving it the shape to follow your heel’s profile and keep it solidly in place.
My US Size 9 ½, D-width feet are comfortable in the EU size 43 Trek Pro last when off-road, yet I prefer a ½ size smaller with the same last in their road models. That’s likely because I wear a heavier sock in the cooler spring and fall temps when I’m doing a lot of my gravel riding.
The Cambion’s upper is made of a bit heavier TPU material than the synthetic leather used in the more expensive Trek RSL MTB shoes. It doesn’t breathe quite as well as the RSL on hot summer days. All the more reason for a bit more room.
That said, both models have flexible upper sections around the edges of your forefoot, what Trek calls METNET for metatarsal netting, that expands if your feet need even more room to stretch out. If you have bunions or other unique features on the outsides of your big or small toes or the balls of your feet, this can come in handy.
DIAL IN YOUR TRADEOFFS
Most gravel or MTB shoes at this price level have just one closure dial that forces you to choose between optimizing the fit across your midfoot or forefoot, but not both. The Shimano RX801 is the single BOA exception to this among the many shoes I’ve tested, offering a well-balanced fit with one dial and two rows of smartly placed wire guides across the midfoot, along with a Velcro strap at its forefoot.
Both the Cambion’s and RX801’s BOA Li2 dials tighten with an outward turn but only release tension – and all of it – when you pull up the dial. The higher-priced Trek and Shimano shoes allow you to turn their BOA IP1 dials outwards to increase tension and inwards to release it in similar amounts.
For me, I’m willing to accept the tradeoff of Cambion’s one-way dials in exchange for the more adjustable fit that comes with having two of them and at a price far lower than the RSL and other brands’ top two-way dial off-road shoes.
I also like the Cambion’s durable, rubbery, and grippy outsole. It sets into its moderately stiff 30% carbon and 70% fiberglass composite outsole, which Trek rates a 10 versus the RSL’s all-carbon, stiffest 14 rating. As I’m not racing but sometimes hiking, I appreciate the assured grip and more forgiving stiffness.
The shoe’s toe bumpers and heel caps are stout yet unobtrusive.
There are also stud mounts on the Cambion where, if you also do cyclocross or fat biking, you can screw in toe spikes. That’s an option that dedicated gravel shoes like the RX801 don’t have.
GOOD VALUE AGAINST TOP PERFORMERS
All in all, the Trek Cambion is a good gravel/MTB shoe value compared to the top-end models we’ve tested from Trek, Specialized, Shimano, and Bont. It’s also a better performing and fitting shoe that’s well worth the slightly higher price than the Giro Sector and Fizik Terra gravel/MTB shoes.
If you plan to use it primarily for gravel riding, Shimano’s similarly priced but dedicated RX801 gravel shoes are 75 grams/shoe lighter than the Cambion on my scale, have a more glove-like fit, and a more supple and breathable upper. It also comes in a wide version and with a knitted ankle cuff in standard and wide sizes as the RX801 Rally.
However, the equally stiff Shimano outsoles aren’t as grippy and wear faster than the Cambion.
As with most gravel gear and apparel, picking between them depends on the kind of gravel you’re riding, how aggressively you want to ride, and your fit preferences.
The Cambion has the sole to confidently hike across rough terrain when you need to get off the bike and has plenty of room for your forefoot and toes to stretch out on a long ride. Alternatively, the Shimano RX801 is ideal for faster or shorter rides on dirt and light gravel but isn’t quite as capable when trekking across rocky and loose gravel sections.
Trek makes the Cambion in black with a brown outsole and in bronze with orange laces and outsole. It’s available for US$260, £250, €280 using this link to Trek’s online store.
In The Know Cycling is ad-free, subscription-free, and reader-supported. If you want to help keep it rolling without any added cost to you, buy your gear and kit after clicking the store links above and across the site. When you do, we may earn an affiliate commission that will help me cover the expenses to create and publish our independent, comprehensive and comparative reviews. Thank you, Steve. Learn more.